IMPORTANCE OF ECGS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF SEVER E PULMONARY-EMBOLISM - A COMPARISON BETWEEN ECG AND PULMONARY-ARTERY ANGIOGRAMS

The incidence of determined ecg-patterns in radiologically confirmed p ulmonary embolism was analysed. Clinical and radiological scores of 44 patients of an ICU were compared with 4 different ecg patterns: S-I-Q (III)-form, right bundle branch block, peaked P-waves and negative T-w aves in precordial leads. The angiographic determined pulmonary vascul ar obstruction was higher than expected due to the clinical evaluation . When all 4 ecg signs were given sensitivity for diagnosis of severe pulmonary embolism was 78%, specificity 4,7%. 6 out of 38 cases of sig nificant pulmonary embolism had a normal ecg. It is concluded that a n ormal ecg does not exclude severe pulmonary embolism.